Improvement in washing-ma chines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. E. SMITH.

WASHING-MACHINE.

No.175,184;. Patented March 21,1876.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. E. SMITH.

WASHING-MACHINE. No.175,184=. Patented March 21,1876.

llfihesses. lmnZor. pf 5? M 1 X2 UNITED STATES HAMILTON E. SMITH,

PATENT Orrren.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN W'A'S'HI'NGMA'CHINEQ Specification formingvpartof Letters Patent No- 175,1S4, dated March 21, 1876; application filed September 15, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAMILTON E. SMITH, of the city, coun y, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines, which improvement is fully described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section. Fig; 2 is a plan or top view. Fig. 3 is an end view.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of washing-machines ,in which a drum is used, which is dividedin several cloth-chambers, and which revolves in a stationary cylindrical suds-jacket. In my machine the cloth-drum and the suds'jacket are both made of enameled cast-iron, so that they are durable, and capable of resisting the influence of soap-suds. The cloth-drum is composed of a series of sections, which are fitted together by side flanges, so that the same can be readily taken apart and packed up in a small compass, and that it can be titted up for use with little trouble or loss of time.

Thejacket is cast in two halves, with a projecting rim at one end to form a cavity for a gear-wheel, which serves to transmit motion to the cloth-drum. On this gear-wheel are one or more cams, which can be made to act on a shipping-lever, so as to stop the cloth-drum in the required position.

In the drawing, the letter A designates the cloth-drum of my washing-machine, which is constructed of enameled cast-iron, and which works in the interior of a cylindrical jacket, B, that is also made of enameled cast-iron, so that the surfaces which come in contact with the soa'psuds will be fully protected against the influence of the liquid, and at the same time a strong, durable, and comparatively cheap machine'is produced.

The'drum A is composed of two perforated heads, cm, and a series of sections, 0 b, which form the body of said drum, and which are provided with lips c c, which bear against the inner surfaces of the heads, said sections bein g fastened to the heads by means of screws d.

The interior of the drum is divided 011' in a number of compartments by a longitudinal partition, 0, and a series of transverse sections,

f. Said longitudinal partition is fitted between flanges or lugs g, which project from the inner surfaces of the heads a, while the transverse par itions are held in place by flanges or lugs h, which project from theopposite faces of the longitudinal partition, and by flanges or lugs 'i, which project from the inner surfaces of the sections 1). Two of said sections are hung on hinges j, so that doors are formed, one on each side of the longitudinal partition, whereby ac cess can be gained to the several compartments of the drum. These doors can be locked by suitable latches. also the partitions e f, are perforated with a large number of holes, so that the water or soap-suds can freely percolate through all the compartments of the drum, and through the clothes contained in the same.

When the drum is to be packed up for transportation, it can be readily taken apart and stowed away in a comparatively small space, and on reaching its place of destination it can be titted up for use in a short time. I

The heads a a of the drum A are cast with gud-geons It, which have their bearings in journal-boxes formed in the heads of the jacket B. This jacket is cast in two halves, which are united by screws l, Figs. 2 and 3, and it is provided with a door, m, that swings on. hinges 'n, and has stops 0, which retain it in the proper position when it is thrown open. The inner surface of the jacket is enameled, so that the same is protected against the influence of the soap-suds or other liquid used in the process of washing, and said jacket is provided with a suit able discharge-pipe, 1), through which the liquid contained therein can be drawn 011'. On one of the gudgeons k of the drum A is mounted a cog-wheel, g, which is protected by a circular flange, r, projecting from the end of the jacket B. Said cog-wheel meshes in another wheel, 8, mounted on a shaft, 0, that has its hearings in journal-boxes t, which are cast to the outer surface of the jacket B. The end of the hub of the cog-wheel 8 forms one part of a clutch, u, the other part of which is formed at the end of the hub of a pulley, '0. which turns loosely on the shaft (3, and to which a sliding motion can be imparted by means of a shipping-lever, D, whereby said pulley is All the sections 1), and.

thrown in or out of gear with the cog-wheel q. The shipping-lever D swings on a pin secured in a bracket, E, which is cast with the jacket B, and it is provided with a latch, to, which swings on a pivot, x, and which can be turned up or down by a rod, 3 (Best seen in Fig. 3, where the latch is shown in full lines, when turned down, and in dotted lines when turned up.) In the bracket E is formed a socket, z, for a plunger, 0,, which is pressed inward by a spring, I), (see Fig. 2,) and the inner end of which is beveled off. On the wheel q are formed two cams, c, which act on the plunger a, and force the same outward against the action of its spring. It the latch w has been turned down and the plunger is forced out,

- the shipping-lever is moved so as to throw the pulley 11 out of gear with the cog-wheel 8, thereby stopping the motion of the drum A. The cams c of the wheel q are in such a position that they stop the motion of the drum whenever one of its doors is opposite to the door in the jacket; and since the plunger a. is driven inward, as soon as the cam has passed it the square shoulder of the cam bears against the plunger, and thereby the drum is prevented from being turned in the wrong direction by the weight of the clothes contained in it, and by opening the doors the clothes can be readily examined or taken out, and replaced by others, if desired.

When it is desirable to continue the motion of the drum, the latch to is turned up to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that the plunger a has no effect on the shippinglever.

Instead of using the shipping-lever in com nection with a clutch and pulley, it might be employed in connection with a belt running on a fast and loose pulley; but the action in that case would be not quite as sure as it is when the clutch is employed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the jacket B, the drum A, composed of the detachable and perforated heads a a, sections b b, and longitudi' nal partitions e, and transverse partitions f, the whole being held together by the lugs g g and h i, substantially as described.

2. The iron jacket B, with its circular flange r, in combination with the cog-wheel q, mon nted on one of the gudgeons of the drum A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with revolving clothdrum A, of a shippingdever, D, carrying a latch, w, a plunger, 00/, cams c, and cog-wheels q s, all constructed and operating substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 8th day of September, 1875.

HAMILTON E. SMITH.

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBEB. 

